Reamer



. NOV. 30, 1937. w A, ABEGG 2,100,621

REAMER Patented Nov. 30, 1937 Walter A. Aberz,

Los Angeles','Calii.-, aminor'to Globe Oil Tools Company, Los Nietos, Oa'lih, a or corporation of California Application November 14, 1936, No 110,8 22- This invention relates to a wel l and relates more particularly to a reamer for use in the rotary method of well drilling. A general object of this invention is to provide a prac- I tical, effective well reamer whose efiective diameter may be readily changed while employing the same cutters or cutters of the same diameter.

Another object of this invention is to provide 'a well reamer embodying roller reaming cutters 'fective diameter of the reamer.

Another object of this invention is to'provide a' reamer of the character mentioned in which the bearing rings surround the body or shank to present large bearing surf-aces and to rotate so that they constantly present new bearing areas for engagement bythecutter trunnions thereby maintaining the reamer at the selected gauge for r a long period. a g

Another object of this invention is to provide a well reamer of the character mentioned in which the cutters maybe easily and quickly replaced 25 when worn andin which the bearing rings may be readily replaced when it is desired to change the gauge or effective diameter of the reamer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reamer of the character mentioned in which 30 the body or shank is subjected to little or no wear due to the rotation of the cutters.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which: r

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the reamer provided by this invention showing a cutter and a portion of the shank in side elevation. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse detailed sectional views taken as indicated by .lines 22, 3-4 and 4-4, respectively, on Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec- 45 tional view illustrating the mounting of one of the cutter trunnions having a bearing ring of larger diameter. f v

The improved well reamer of the present invention includes, generally, a body or shank l0, roller cutters ll spaced about the shank l0, and means I2 rotatably supporting the cutters II and capable of mounting the cutters at greater or less distances from the axis of the shank ID to change the effective diameter of the reamer. 55 The shank I0 is adapted to be connected in a having shafts or trunnions supportedjon bearing rings which may be replaced by bearing rings of difierent diameters, thereby changing the ef-' a downwardly facing annular shoulder. ll.

well bore to ream the same are in same diameter and generally cyli'ndrical'and their lower end por- 9 Claims. (or. 255- 13)) drilling tool.

rotary wen anthems; n mean ime gas. I 0 may ibean elongate member generally cylindrical in shape' Suitable means are provided at the ends 'of the shank Iilior connectingit. in the drilling string... In the particular. case. illustrated 5 a screw threaded socket l3 provided-in the. upper end of the shank, l0 and a tapered threaded pin I4 is provided on the lower end of the .shank'" ill for connecting. the; shank in the drilling string In accordance withthe invention thejiloi shank Ill is provided with an annular downwardly facing shoulder I5 spaced some distance xbelqw its upper 'end.

.Three circumferentially spaced wings or sides of the ears I6 may be in the same plane-as the shoulder. l5. vThe.outer ends or theears. l6 may be suitably 'rounded'i and'the, sides of the rearsfmay. be tangential fwith respectto a :circle v whose center lies in the axis of the shank. l0. to

merge one with the. other. The lower portion of the shank i0 immediatelyzabovethepin H is reduced fin. diameter providing j. the shank with The invehtion includesan annular member, I8 removablyrarranged around the reduced. lower ,portion'o'f the shank to bear upwardly againstthe I The member itisprovided with three circumferentiallyl spaced Years is. similar to the-above described ears Iii. The member I8 is held against rotation by a key 20 and. is positioned so that its'ears i9'lare .in vertical alignment with the ears IS. A nut 2| is threaded on the shank I0 to clamp the member l8 upwardly against the shoulder l1. A central longitudinal, fiuidpassage 22 extends through the shankv I 0 L from its socket" l3 to the lower end of thepin l4 to conduct the circulation .fluid, pumped through the drilling string.

ears .I 6' p roject outwardly-from V the shank l0 above the'shoulder;l5.-; The lower 15 I The cutters ll ioracting on the sidewall oi the 40 the nature. of

rotatable .roller cutters- The particular embodi ment of the invention illustrated includes three cutters ll, there beinga cutter Ill rotatably supported between each pair of verticallyaligned ears. 4.5 I 6 and. The three cutters. ill may beoi the length. The cutters ii are tion's may be }tapereddownwardly and inwardly.

The upper and lower ends of the cutters H are preferably fiat and normal V I relative to the longig tudinal axes of the cutters. The cutters .II are provided with peripheral cutting teeth 23 for acting on the side wallioi the well bore. The

teeth maybe axial and may extend between the upper and lower ends of the cutters. In the structure illustrated the teeth 23 of the cutters are interrupted by annular circumferential grooves 24. In accordance with the invention shafts or trunnions 25 project from the upper ends of the cutters I and similar, although somewhat shorter trunnions 26 project from the lower ends of the .cutters. may be integral parts of the cutters Has illustrated, or may be separately formed parts suit- "-is important as it allows the; cutters II to be shifted or adjusted radially to vary the effective diameter of the reamer. Thrust plates 29 may be arranged in the upper ends of the sockets 21 to receive the end thrustsfrom the upper ends of the'trunnions 25. It is to be understood that the trunnions 25 and 26 do not rotatably bear in the sockets 21 and the openings 28 to, support the cutters H against the inward operatingthrusts.

--The sockets 21 andthe openings 26 receive the 'trunnions25 and 26, respectively, to maintain,

the cutters II in their proper operative positions.

- It may be found necessary or desirable to provide longitudinal grooves 30 in the intermediate portion of the shank H) to assure proper clearance between the cutters II and the shank when the trunnions 25 and 26 are in the innermost portions of the sockets 21 and the openings 28. I of-the grooves 3|! are preferably spaced from the shoulders l5 and H of the shank.

The adjustable cuttermountingmeans 2 further includes a bearing ring 32 rotatably surrounding the shank |0 below the shoulder |5 to support the cutter trunnions 25 against inward thrustsv and a'similar bearing ring 32 rotatably'surrounding the shank In above the'shoulder l1 and the member l8 to rotatably support thecuttertrun'nions 26 against the inward operating forces. The bear- I ing rings 3| and 32 maybe simple annular parts of square or rectangular cross section and may be identical. The rings 3| and 32 are freely rotatable on'the shank I6 so that they may be rotated by the trunnions 25 and 26 of the rotating cutters ll. It is to be understood that the rotative engagement between the trunnions 25 and the ring 3| andbetween the trunnions 26 and the ring 32 sion of these forces.

supports the cutters II for reaming engagement with the side wall of the well bore so that the trunnions do not bear on the inner walls of .the sockets 21 and the openings 28 for the transmis- The rotative engagement between the trunnions 25 and the ring 3| and the trunnions-26 and the ring 32 results in rotation of the rlng's f'soi'that the rings are worn evenly and present long orlarge bearing surfaces for cooperating with the trunnions. Further, the rotating bearing rings 3| and 32 operate to gear together the several cutters I assuring the rotation of the cutters about their individual axes so that the cutters do not drag and become flattened on one The trunnions 25- and 26 I The ends H change the effective diameter of the reamer. The sockets 21 and the openings 28 being in the form of radially elongated slots allow the trunnions 25 and 26 to assume positions at various distances from the axis of the shank l0 when bearing rings 3|, 3| etc. and 32, 32 etc. of different external diameter are employed. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawing, rings 3| and 32 of relatively small diameter are employed and the trunnions 25 and 26 are received in the inner portions of the sockets 21 and the openings 26, respectively, whereas Fig. 5 of the drawing illustrates a bearing ring 3| of greater external diameter surrounding the shank I 0 rotatably supportingatrunnion 25 in the outer portions of a socket 21 whereby the reamer has a much larger effective diameter. The bearing rings are provided insets of two rings each, the rings of each set being of the same size. To change the effective diameter of thereamer itsbearing rings are replaced by a set of bearing rings having a different external diameter than the set replaced. It is.

to be understood that thetrunnions, 25 and 26 bear on the bearing rings 3| and 32 regardless of the outside diameters of the bearing rings so that the shank I0 is not subjected to excessive wear due to rotation of the cutters I. It isto be particularly noted'that the same cutters ||or replacement cutters ll of the same diameter may be employed with bearing rings 3| 3| etc. and

'32, 32* etc. of different external diameters when the effective diameter of the reamer is to be changed, as just described. I

It is believed that the operation of the reamer provided by the present invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description. When the 'reameris assembled for operation it is provided with bearing rings 3|, 3|",

etc. and 32, 32, etc; operableto rotatably support the cutters II at the selected distance from the longitudinal axis of the shank I0 so that the reamer has the desired effective diameter. The shank I0 is adapted to' be connected in a rotary well drilling string and the reamer is adapted to be rotated in the well bore in the well the cutters are"rotatably supported without subjecting the shank l0 to excessive wear. The engagement of the trunnions 25 and 26 with the bearing rings 3| and 32, respectively, results in turning of the bearing rings so that they present their entire bearing areas for contact by the trunnions. In this manner the bearing rings are very long wearing and'maintain the reamer at the selected gauge for a long period. The rotating bearing rings 3| and 32 may serve to assure the individual rotation of'the cutters so that the cutters do not drag and become flattened through their engagement with the earth formation. i

The efi ective diameter or the reaming diameter of the tool may be readily changed by replacing the bearing rings 3|, 3 |!,etc. and 32, 32 etc. with similarrings of a different external diameter. To replace'the bearingrings,..3|, 3|! etc. and 32, 32 etc. and to replace the cutters II when necessary, the nut 2| is unthreaded and V the member I8 is slid from the shank II).

This permits the easy removal of the cutters II and the bearing rings 3| and 32. When bearing rings of larger external diameter than the bearing rings illustrated in Fig. 1, are assembled on the shank l0 they hold or support the trunnions 25 and 26 at a greater distance from the axis of the shank I 0. This, of course, increases the effective diameter of the reamer. It will be observed that the diameter of the reamer may be changed in this manner without employing larger cutters or cutters of a difierent diameter. The cutters H and the bearing rings 3|, 3|, etc. and 32, 32,

etc. for supporting the cutters at the selected distances from the axes of the shank are simple and inexpensive and may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be restricted or limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A well reamer including, a shank, parts on the shank having openings elongated radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank, a cutter between said parts having trunnions extending into said openings, the trunnions being adjustable in the said openings, and bearing members on the shank cooperating with the trunnions to support the cutter against inward forces.

2. A well reamer including, a shank, parts on the shank having openings elongated radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank, a cutter between said parts having trunnions extending into said openings, the trunnions being adjustable in the said openings, and spaced rings around the shank cooperating with the trunnions to support the cutter against inward forces.

3. A well reamer including, a shank, parts on the shank having openings elongated radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank, a cutter between said parts having trunnions extending into said openings, the trunnions being adjustable radially in the openings, and rotatable bearing rings surrounding the shank to cooperate with the trunnions and support the cutters against inward forces.

4. A well reamer including, a shank, parts on the shank having openings elongated radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank, a cutter between said parts having trunnions extending into said openings, the trunnions being adjustable in said openings, and spaced rotatable bearing rings surrounding-the shank and receiving the inward thrusts from the trunnions to rotatably support the cutter and determine its radial position.

5. A well reamer including, a shank, longitudinally aligned pairs of spaced projecting parts on the shank, said parts having openings elongated radially relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank, cutters arranged between said parts and having trunnions extending into said openings, the trunnions being adjustable in said openings, and replaceable members on the shank engaged by the trunnions to supportthe cutters against inward pressures and determine their radial positions.

6. A well reamer including, a shank, longitudinally aligned pairs .of spaced projecting parts on the shank, said parts having openings elongated radially relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank, cutters arranged between said parts and having trunnions extending into said openings,

having trunnions extending into said openings,

the trunnions being adjustable radially in said openings, androtatable bearing rings surrounding the shank and engaged by the trunnions to support the cutters against inward forces and to determine their active radial positions.

8. A rotary well reamer including, a shank, circumferentially spaced ears on the shank, a removable member surrounding the shank and having ears aligned with and spaced from the first mentioned ears, the first and second mentioned ears having radially elongate axially extending openings, a roller cutter arranged between each pair of aligned ears, trunnions on the cutters extending into said openings, thetrunnions being adjustable radially in said openings, and replaceable bearing parts surrounding the shank to be engaged by the trunnions to support the cutters against inward forces and to determine their active radial positions.

9. A rotarywell reamer including, a shank, circumferentially' spaced ears on the shank, a removable member surrounding the shank and hav ing ears aligned with and spaced from the first mentioned ears, the first and second mentioned ears having radially elongate axially extending openings, a roller cutter arranged between each pair of aligned ears, trunnions on the cutters extending into said openings, the trunnions being radially adjustable in the said openings, and removable rotatable bearing rings surrounding the shank to be engaged by the trunnions to support the cutters against inward forces and to locate the cutters radially.

WALTER A. ABEGG. 

